Message boards...

After running some errands today, I stopped in a few shops at Lakeside and Glenside.  The first stop was Feathernesters, a really cute shop with crafty items and a tea room.  I love everything in there but didn't buy anything.

Then I went next door to Pass It On Consignments, a store that just opened on Tuesday.  It's not a junk shop, an antique shop, or a thrift store, but a wonderful combination of all these.  They had some great old furniture for good prices, and little handmade items, along with some vintage products that are hard to find, like these Welch's juice glasses from the 80's.  I was going to buy a couple for Bonnie, but she wouldn't separate the set, so I left them behind.

I noticed the owner had a stack of applications for booth space sitting on the counter, so I asked some questions about selling items.  I've been looking for an outlet to sell message boards, and have an Etsy shop set up, but I think it would be awesome to sell them locally, too.  She gave me some info, and I came home motivated to whip some up so I can show her my work.  I bought a bunch of canvases a few weeks ago on the cheap, so I have plenty of materials to make at least 10 boards.

After running a few more errands and heading home, I lugged everything I needed downstairs and got to work on my first board.

Here's what you need:
-stretched canvas boards
-fat quarters or bigger of random fabrics (needs to be about 4 inches longer and wider than the canvas you buy)
-quilt batting, cut to the size of the fabric
-ribbon to match your fabric (yardage varies based on your canvas - 2 yards should be plenty for 16x20 board or less)
-brads to match your fabric and ribbon (you'll need 13 brads, which is inconvenient because they usually come in packages of 12, although you can modify the project to use less - stay tuned)
-crafting staple gun and staples
-scissors
-1 nail

The great thing about these is you can use any fabric, ribbon, and brads for whatever look you want, whether it's for a holiday, kid's room, kitchen, etc, there's something for everyone out there.

Let's build one, shall we?

First, place your canvas on top of the fabric and batting and trim it so it is 2-3 inches wider and longer than the canvas:

Fabric should be on the bottom, oops.  Here's how it should look:

Then, anchor 2 sides of the fabric, so you don't pull too much on one side and run out of room on the other side:

Then start pulling the fabric along one side, stapling about every 3/4 inch.  Stop when you get a few inches away from a corner, and fold the fabric on an angle, pull tight and staple:

Here's how it looks all stapled:

back

 

 front

Now, it's time to add our ribbons where you'll put your coupons, notes, to-do's, etc., once the project is all finished.  Start in the middle, going from top left to bottom right corner, stapling the ends of the ribbon on the back of the canvas:

back

 front

I like to do 5 strips of ribbon going each direction, but that's how I run into the problem of needing 13 brads, and only being able to buy 12 or 24.  You can cut it down to 3 strips in each direction, just leave more room between each strip:

one direction finished

both sides done

Once your ribbon is all finished, it's time to add the brads.  I use a long nail, about the diameter of a pen's ink cartridge.  Use the nail and a lot of elbow grease to punch a hole at each ribbon intersection, going through both layers of ribbon along with the canvas.  You'll hear it when the nail has punctured the canvas, and sometimes it takes a lot of twisting and pushing, but it does work.  Once you have your hole, push your brad through:

Once all the brads are through the nail holes, separate the tails of the brad to anchor them.  The back of your canvas will look like this:

And you're done...here's the front.  Voila!

One down, 9 more to go.

Here's hoping the store will like them, and if so, here's hoping customers like them too! :)


EDIT:  I forgot to share the awesome Longaberger display they had at the consignment shop.  They had an old mattress with all the fluffy stuff taken out so it was just the springs...and they had baskets hanging from the springs.  Awesome.  Here it is:

Head in the game...

This is where my attention and focus should be...

....and this is where it is:

10 more days!

Gator, and Buffalo, and Polar Bears, OH MY!

Yesterday was filled with exotic animals and good times.  It all started weeks ago when Nate and his co-workers decided to do the 2010 Polar Plunge, to benefit Special Olympics, in VA Beach.  Unfortunately, on the day of the plunge, Fredericksburg and Richmond were buried under many inches of snow, and the event went on without them.  The upside is that their team raised quite a bit of money for the charity, and they decided to participate in a similar event a few weeks later (yesterday) at Tim's River Shore on the Potomac River.

So that brings us to this weekend.  On the way up to the shore for the event, Dave and I stopped for lunch at the Bass Pro Shop's restaurant, The Islamorada Fish Market, named after the village of islands off the Florida Keys where it was founded.  I know a restaurant inside a sporting goods store doesn't sound glamorous, but Dave heard that they served alligator as an appetizer, and we thought we had to go to the beach for that - so, I was up for checking it out.

I've never been inside the store before, so until the restaurant opened for lunch, we walked around a little.  Wow, searching for the appropriate words.  This place is like those stores you find at the beach that have anything and everything you could ever imagine needing while you're at the beach.  And then some.  If anyone's looking for the perfect birthday or Christmas gift for me, here it is:

 

How awesome is this?  They also have dogs and Jaws and frogs.

They also have children's camouflage bedding, in case you're in the market for it:

...and every other country outdoor accessory you could ever imagine.  I think I might go back, just to see what all it has to offer, as I only visited one corner of the store:

Then, we go into the restaurant and I'm blown away that they've been hiding this place inside a sporting goods store all this time...it's like they were keeping a gigantic secret.  It was much nicer than many of the restaurants we usually go to.  Perhaps that says something for our taste in restaurants?  No, it's really that nice.

We ordered alligator and it came out lookin' all fancy like it was prepared by one of the contestants of Top Chef:














We also ordered buffalo burgers, which we first tried in Alaska, and they were good, too.

Then, it was time to make our way up 95 and through some winding roads to get to the river shore.  When I got there it felt like home, like all those dives we used to go to on the weekends when I was in my late teens, early twenties, hanging out with White Oak folks.  It is simple and awesome, with faux palm trees and piers all over the place.  I can imagine this place in the summertime, with a ton os boats anchored not far off shore and customers wading into the restaurant, holding 6-packs of beer over their heads. 

Here's Nate's team, the Physical Therapy Plungers, entering the water for their plunge - yes, they carried plungers with them into the water!  They had to wade/walk/run out about 50 feet, plunge (optional) into the water, and then walk/run back:

He was given strict instructions not to fully immerse himself in the water, so he wouldn't go into shock, but as he was walking back to the shore, he paused, daintily sat down in the water briefly, and then got up to continue his trek to dry land.  Awesome.

I still think he's crazy, but it looked like fun :)

Billpaying desk...

At the Capitol today, in the "Capitol Disaster" room, there were desks with lids that can be opened for storage - like the ones we used to have in school, only the 18th century version.  They are awesome!  They were lined up in rows, and I could imagine all the great minds that used those desks...nevermind that they might be reproductions! 

They reminded me of a desk I saw the other night at the furniture store.  Only this one is called a laptop desk and I'm visualizing it not with a quill pen and ink well, but with a charging station and a bowl to throw my keys into, making that CLINK sound.  Best part?  It's only $149.99! 

Here it is, closed:

And open, showing all the awesome cubbies and hiding places:

Now, I must wait until I can drop $149.99 on it.........

In other news, the dining room project is on hold indefinitely, but I'm going to use all my inspiration to DIY some curtains for the living room instead.  We have fally orange, cream, and olive throw pillows in the living room, and one of the fabrics we picked out looks perfect with the color combination!  Check it out:

Very Richmond...

After our fun downtown, I was all hopped up on history and loving my town, so I decided to go to Very Richmond to see what kind of Richmond memorabilia I could find.  I've been searching the internets for Cat's Meow pieces of Richmond landmarks to expand my collection, and have been unsuccessful.  This store has all things Richmond - ornaments, paintings, drawings of local colleges, Virginia wines, etc., etc.

They had a few pieces:  Capitol building, Virginia flag, Governor's Mansion, and Main Street Station.  The train station one was awesome, but it was huge!  So I only picked up the Capitol and flag.  I also picked up a Richmond pub glass and an ornament.  Here's my loot:

I spotted these awesome photo collages at Christmas when Bonnie and I were browsing the shop, and I think they're awesome.  I was so tempted to buy the Richmond or JMU one today, but then I thought to myself "Self, why don't you just take a bunch of pictures around town and make your own?"  Wow, what a good idea....save myself $40-$60! 

So, after the tours and shopping, I was pooped so I came home...and I've been sitting around ever since.  I cleaned a little, did a little laundry, read a little Biology, etc.  Looking forward to a super-relaxing night!

A tourist in my own town...

Today was a work team-building day, so my peeps and I went downtown and played tourist.  It was really fun, but a lot of walking, so I'm taking a break now to tell you all about it :)  I geeked out lot and I think the tour guide at the last place would have smacked me if I asked one more question.

Our first stop was the state Capitol - I can't believe I've lived here 5 years and have never been.  After walking up about 67 steps, we got to the main floor, where we followed our guide, who rattled off facts about the history of each room...this guy knows his stuff.

40 of the 50 states' Capitol buildings have exterior domes - we are not one of the 40, but we have an interior dome:

On each corner of the dome, the Virginia state seal is painted on the ceiling:

And we have the only life-size statue of George Washington - copies of it have been made, but this is the only authentic one:

In the last room we toured, where the "Capitol Disaster" occurred, he told us the House of Delegates was in session and invited us to go up to the gallery and watch our state government in action - um, yes please!.  While we were there, they were honoring the family of a soldier, Staff Sergeant Phillip Myers, who died serving his country in Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Here they are in action, applauding the soldier's  family receiving honors:

And this is where my camera died.  What's the first rule of photography?  Charge your battery!!! UGH.

After the Capitol, we walked to the John Marshall House.  Who knew there were old plantation houses in the middle of the city?  Not this girl.  How awesome.  If I knew that, I would have visited this place years ago...but now that I know they are there, I can go on more tours!  See, this is what I meant when I said I geeked out today.  I'm a total fanatic...

Anyways, John Marshall was a prominent attorney in Richmond, and was either the 3rd or 4th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  He was also lazy, unkempt, and unappealing to the ladies.  And then 13-year old Polly came along and fell in lurve.  The rest is history.  LITERALLY, get it?  Ha.

Then we went over to the Valentine History Center to have lunch, catered by Cuisine A La Carte, and I must say, they know their bologna.  I got a sandwich called 'The Working Man' - bologna, provolone, lettuce, tomato, dill mayo, and dijon mustard.  It might have been the best bologna sammich ever - but I'm still not sure if it was because it was actually good, or that I was so famished from all the walking that it satisfied like you wouldn't believe.  Either way, I'd try it again.

After the quietest Privacy lunch ever (until we were finished stuffing our faces, we made fun of each other a little...it's what we do best), we toured the Wickham House.   Wickham was John Marshall's richer, more good-looking, cleaner friend.  His house was much fancier and architecturally appealing, and he saved all the fanciest stuff for the rooms guests would see, and the family rooms are plain...guess he was all about showing off his money.

After that tour, we were done with our fun.  It was a great day, and I'm looking forward to exploring my city further!

Be still my heart

I guess all the painting and moving furniture zapped Zoey's energy, so she's havin' a lazy Sunday! I'm jealous!

Painting, phase II

To celebrate Lent, I am adding reading scripture to my daily routine, along with attempting to get rid of my vice of choice, procrastination on unfinished projects, but I think I'm cheating already.  Here's why...

I'm taking two classes this semester, and both have minimal homework other than studying for exams.  But this weekend, I had to study for an Anthropology quiz due at midnight tonight, along with writing a 1 page Biology lab report.  That's right, I said 1 page.  I realize I could write 1 page about anything in about 15 minutes, but for some reason this combination of work makes me want to throw myself down on the floor like a 4 year old, kicking my feet around, and slamming my fists into the ground repeatedly.  This feeling is the perfect storm for a bout of procrastination.  But does it count if we accomplished a way bigger project instead of me doing my homework?  Procrastination begets completion?

Everyone knows about our painting project - after many agonizing hours I finally picked a color and we painted our kitchen.  Then we sealed up the paint can and haven't looked at it in a month.  It didn't bother me immediately, but now every time I look at our builder's beige walls in the living room, I am reminded of my Lenten promise of getting some unfinished projects finished.

So Friday night, I decided we were going to paint this weekend, and paint we did.  Here are some pictures of the finished project.  I haven't put anything back on the walls yet, and it might be a while before I do, because I'm enjoying the paint color too much.

And, in case you were wondering, I finished my Anthropology quiz this morning, with unsavory grade, and my biology 1 pager is in progress.  Here's my problem with the Anthro quiz - 2 of the questions had 2 answers that said the same thing, but a slight variation determined the correct answer.  I can live with that - I messed up.  What I don't understand is this:

The question is:   
The major chromosomal difference between human males and females is that:
a) females have more chromosomes
b) males have more chromosomes
c) females have one more paired set of chromosomes
d) males have one more paired set of chromosomes

I chose a because I didn't think any one of them were right, but that is not the correct answer.  Hmmmm?


The book says that both males and females have 23 sets of chromosomes. The difference between the sexes is within the 23rd set, with females having 2 X chromosomes, and males and X and a Y.

The jury is still out - good news is the professor is looking into it.



Hopefully I can finish my Biology 1 pager so we can go see "Shutter Island" today.  Leonardo DiCaprio?  Yes, please.  The only thing that would make that movie better is having Logan's before or after, but we'd have to go to Fredericksburg for that, and no.

Career Path quiz, AKA thanks for nothing, I already knew that

John and Sherry, over at YoungHouseLove, posted a link to a color career counselor, where you allow your favorite color choices to help determine your career path.  Hinky, right?

I thought so, too.  But my results are pretty accurate - both in my career and home life (well, most of the time).  Apparently, I am first and organizer, then a persuader.

Here's my result summary:

Best Occupational Category -You're an ORGANIZER

Keywords
Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate
These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.ORGANIZER CAREERS
Suggested careers are Administrator, Secretary, Printer, Paralegal, Building Inspector, Bank Cashier, Private Secretary, Statistician, Operations Manager, Financial Analyst, Bookkeeper, Medical Records Technician, Developer of Business or Computer Systems, Clerical Worker, Proofreader, Accountant, Administrative Assistant, Banker, Certified Public Accountant, Credit Manager, Store Salesperson, Actuary, Dental Assistant, Business Education Teacher, Food Service Manager, IRS Agent, Budget Analyst, and Underwriter.
ORGANIZER WORKPLACES
Your very careful, conscientious, conservative nature gives others the confidence to trust you with handling money and material possessions. Structured organizations that have well-ordered chains of command work best for you.
Suggested Organizer workplaces are large corporations, business offices, financial lending institutions, banks, insurance companies, accounting firms, and quality control and inspection departments.

2nd Best Occupational Category -You're a PERSUADER

Keywords:
Witty, Competitive, Sociable, Talkative, Ambitious, Argumentative, and Aggressive
These enterprising types sell, persuade, and lead others. Positions of leadership, power, and status are usually their ultimate goal. Persuasive people like to take financial and interpersonal risks and to participate in competitive activities. They enjoy working with others inside organizations to accomplish goals and achieve economic success.

• Section I: You and Your Team 
• This personality overview section highlights your natural workplace talents—the tasks you pursue with passion. You'll learn how your natural strengths complement those of your coworkers and how, joining forces, you can resolve on-the-job dilemmas. 
• Section II: Your Key To Success
  
  • Here you discover your capacity for dispelling disruption and maximizing profitability. Use this proven, beyond-self-perception advice to create a more positive career path free of detours.
• Section III: Managing Strengths and Weaknesses
  
  • Your evaluation's highest and lowest scores result in this section's recommendations for staying on-track in your career and reversing wrong turns. In focusing on your talents and missteps, you'll re-stoke your energy and enthusiasm for managing costly mistakes.
• Section IV: Leadership Power Moves
  
  • This final section identifies your "street sense," those power moves that turn obstacles into insignificant details. Here suggestions based on your color-ranked evaluations will guide you towards making the most of an interview or harnessing your fast-paced workday.

Take it for yourself, at:  http://www.careerpath.com/career-tests/colorcareercounselor.aspx

Best party punch ever

This stuff is awesome and we make it for most parties that we plan, unless there are too many people.  For 10 or less, this is perfect!

Simple and tasty - all you need is a 2 liter bottle of ginger ale (or champagne), 1 container of sherbert in your favorite flavor, and some orange, lemon, or lime slices, depending on what sherbert you choose.

Enjoy!